Hopper-bottom for mixers or the like.



n Patented Apr. 22, |902.

c. T. BRAKE. HOPPER BOTTOM FOR MIXERS 0R THE LIKE.

:Application led June 7. 1901,)

2 sheets-snm l.

(No Model.`v

Pt. f

No. 69s,|a2. Patented Apr. 22, |902. c. T. unma. HPPER BTTM FR KIXEKS miTHE LIKE.

(Application led Imke 7, 190k) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

W/TNESSES: INVENTOH/ f/mwmf. N 'VJ/jam A TTORNEY UNITED STATES EN nvPATENT OEEIoE.

CHESTER T. DRAKE, on CHICAGO, iLLINoIs.

HOPPER-BOTTOIVI FOR MlXERS OR THE LIKE.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 698,182, dated April22, 1902.

Application and June 7, 1901. serial No. 63.527. (No model.) Y

To all wwm it may concern:

' Be it known that I, CHESTER T. DRAKE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Hopper-Bottoms forMixers or the Like; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to improvements in hopper-bottoms designed,primarily, for use in connection with a measuring receptacle or hopperadapted to discharge its contents into a mixer or the like, butsusceptible of many other applications. v

A primary object of the invention is to construct a dumping-bottom of aseries of parallel sections or slats pivoted to the walls of thereceptacle and provided with means for imparting a simultaneousoperation to all of the sections.

The invention further embraces lthe idea of a novel manner of securingthe sections or slats to their pivot-bars that the weight of thecontents of the hopper or receptacle thereon Will greatly assist thetilting of the sections when the operating means has been initiallymanipulated.

The invention further relates to novel details and arrangements of theseveral parts, as will more fully appear from an inspection of thedetailed description hereinafter and the appended claims', when taken inconnection with the drawings forming part hereof.

In the drawings a preferable embodiment of the invention is illustratedfor the sake of clear-ness in understanding the invention, and whenhereinafter referring to the same like reference characters refer tocorresponding parts in the several views.

Figure l is an end view of a measuring hopper or receptacle supportedupon a mixingchamber of any usual or preferred construction, parts beingshown in section to show the improved bottom in operative position. Fig.2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1 with the side' wall of the `-receptacletaken away and showing the openand closed positions of thebottom-sections; and Figs. 3 and Ltare detailed views of one of thesections, showing the manner of supporting the same upon its pivot-rod.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, A designates amixing-chamber of any suitable type supported in any desired manner, asby beams B, and C represents the mixin g-bladesrotatably mounted in thechamber. Directly above the mixingchamber, supported thereby orconstituting a continuation thereof, is a measuring receptacle or hopperD, so disposed as to be capable of discharg ing its contents linto amixing-chamber. At the lower portion of thisreceptacle D is prof videdmy improved tilting bottom, which may now be described. e

The bottom comprises a series of parallel sections or slats E, adaptednormally tooocupy a horizontal plane and constitute an unbroken bottomor support for the receptacle D. Each of thesections to one side of thelongitudinal center thereof is provided with a pivot-rod F, the samebeing secured thereto through the medium of bolts f. The free end ofeach supporting-rod passes through and is supported in a bearing-plate fon the opposite side of the receptacle and at its opposite end issupported in a corresponding bearing-plate f2 at the other side of thereceptacle. On the insides of the walls of the receptacle wearing-platesG are provided to protect the said sides, the same being usuallyconstructed of wood. Each pivot-rod is provided with an offset portionor crank H, the lower ends of which are pivoted to thehorizontally-dis-- posed shifting rod I. The end of the rod I is in turnpivoted to the main operating-lever J, pivoted to a bracket j o n themixer-frame through the medium of the slot-and-bolt adjustableconnection i. v

From so much of the description the operation of the bottom may beunderstood, the sections of the bottom being arranged in a horizontalplane, as shown in full lines, Fig. 2. The bottom of the receptacle iseffectually closed, and any material thrown thereinto to be measuredwill be supported upon said sections, Athe operating-lever occupying asubstantially vertical plane, as shown, thereby 'retaining the shiftingrod and the cranks piv oted thereto in their foremost positions. When itis desirable to dump the material from the measuring chamber or hopperinto IOO the mixing-chamber therebeneath, the sections of the bottom aretilted by throwing the operating-lever to the right in the positionshown by dotted lines, whereby the shifting rod will be drawn in lthesame direction, throwing the cranks upon theirpivots in the same generaldirection, and consequently tilting the sections into avertical plane,also shown by dotted lilies. The material is thereupon free to dropthrough the spaces intermediate the sections. The operation of dumpingis eiectually assisted by the weight of the contents of the receptacleupon the extended surface of the sections or slats to the left of theirpivot-rods.

To lock the operating-lever in vertical position and maintain the bottomsections in alinement, a catch K is pivoted to said lever and is adaptedto be thrown over the extended portion of the pivot-rod nearest theretoimmediately adjacent the crank portion thereof, while to prevent anexcessive fall of the lever to the right a stop K' is provided at theside of the mixing-chamber.

From the above it will be apparent that by a relatively simpleconstruction and arrangement a hopper-bottom is afforded which forefficiency and easy manipulation will be found to be an improvement overany analogous constructions in the art.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed as new, anddesired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

l. In a hopper, the combination with the sides thereof, of a tiltingbottom comprising a plurality of parallel sections eccentricallyjournaled in and extending through the opposite sides of the hopper, acrank secured to each of said sections outside of the hopper, and meansfor simultaneously oscillating said cranks and thereby swinging saidsections in the same direction into and out of alinement.

2. In a hopper, the combination with the sides thereof, of a tiltingbottom comprising a plurality of parallel sections, rods journaled inthe opposite sides of the hopper to which said sections areeccentrically secured, a crank on an end of each of the said rods, andmeans connected to the cranks on said rods for simultaneously swingingall of the sections in the same direction into and out of alinement,substantially as described.

3. In combination with a hopper or receptacle and suitable supports, atilting bottom comprising a plurality of parallel sections eccentricallypivoted in the sides of the receptacle, wear-plates on the insides ofthe walls of the receptacle through which the pivots of the sectionsextend, a crank secured to each of said sections outside of the hopper,and means for simultaneously oscillating said cranks and therebyswinging said sections in the same direction into and out of alinement.

4.-. In combination with a hopper or receptacle and suitable supportstherefor, a tilting bottom comprising a plurality of parallel sectionsadapted to normally occupy a horizontal plane, a pivot-rod for an end ofeach section, a crank on each pivot-rod, means in communication with allof the cranks for simultaneously swinging in the same direction all ofthe sections into and out of alinement, and a stop for limiting themovements of the said means, substantially as described.

5. In combination with a hopper or receptacle and suitable supportstherefor, a tilting bottom comprising a plurality of parallel sections,pivots for said sections, a crank extending outwardly from each section,a shifting rod pivoted to all of the cranks, a pivoted operating-rod,having a slot therein, and a projection xed to said shifting rod andslidably engaging the slot in the operating-lever.

6. In combination with a hopper or receptacle and suitable supportstherefor, a tilting bottom comprising a series of pivoted parallelsections adapted to normally occupy a horizontal plane, a crank on eachsection, a shifting rod connected to all of the cranks, a pivotedoperating-lever connected to the shifting rod, means for limitingexcessive movement of the operating-rod and a catch adapted to engageone of the cranks to lock the operating-lever iu normal position,substantially as described.

7L In a hopper, the combination with the sides thereof, of a tiltingbottom comprising a series of eccentrically-pivoted parallel sections, acrank on each section outside of the hopper, a pivoted operating-lever,means connecting said lever to the crank on each section, and afastening device pivoted to the operating-lever for retaining the samein position through engagement with one of said sections to maintain thesections in alinement, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHESTER T. BRAKE. lVitnesses:

O. Pnfrnnson, J. M. WEBER.

IOO

